Day: May 29, 2023

Tema, West Africa has become an important route for international drug trafficking, Mr. Benjamin Ndego, Criminologist and a Compliance and Risk Manager at Travelex Worldwide Money, has disclosed.

Mr. Ndego, who was also Ghana’s National Correspondent for Anti-Money Laundering in the International Governmental Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), said since 2006, between 20 and 40 tonnes of cocaine had been transiting through the region annually on route to Europe.

He said 20 tonnes of cocaine was valued at approximately US$1 billion on the wholesale market.

He said this at the ongoing fifth Maritime Security and Transnational Organized Crime (MSTOC) course being run by the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) with support from the German Government.

He said drug trafficking was run like a multinational organisation by well-organized and powerful crime groups based in different parts of the world, a situation that makes it difficult for security agencies to easily breakthrough.

He said globally, some 210 million people, representing 4.8 percent of the population aged between 15 and 64 years, use illicit substances annually, adding that the annual global drug trade is worth $435 billion a year.

Mr. Ndego stated that in the past decade, drug barons had been peddling their goods through West Africa to feed hungry markets in Europe and North America.

He added that the United Nations reckoned that cocaine worth $1.25 billion passed through West Africa every year, an amount that was more than the national budgets of several countries in the region.

He observed that both drug trafficking and its policing were huge problems, saying that after a long period of quietness, there were subsequent seizures in 2018 and 2019, stating, however, that while some high-level arrests were being made, it was mainly small-time dealers and people buying drugs for their personal use who were being thrown into prison to make the statistics look good, while the men at the top went untouched due to corruption.

‘Kingpins cooperate with politicians, businessmen, security people, and lawyers to get free passage; we are stuck with a policy in the region that understands the number of arrests made as the way to judge the success of drug control,’ he said.

The criminologist said the emerging trend was that West African countries were becoming the centre that produced methamphetamine and synthetic drugs, which were shipped to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

He added that it emerged as a problem in Africa in 2010 when authorities discovered an international cocaine trafficking ring trying to set up a methamphetamine laboratory in Liberia, adding that in the following months, methamphetamine busts began to occur in Nigeria as well.

Mr. Ndego said porous legislation, poor law enforcement, poor implementation of the laws, a lack of collaboration between relevant local and national agencies, and turf wars between law enforcement agencies served as enablers for West Africa being a drug trafficking route.

He said get-rich-quick syndrome, a lack of government effort to support the youth, and the threat of poverty on the people were the drivers of the problem.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, The African Airlines Association (AFRAA), in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines and Collins Aerospace, has organised a one-day youth event as part of Corporate Social Responsibility activities aimed at empowering and motivating the next generation of aviators.

The event sponsored by Ethiopian Airlines and Collins Aerospace was held at Ethiopian Aviation University.

A statement issued in Accra as part of the 11th Aviation Stakeholders Convention said 130 high school students from 10 schools in Ethiopia benefited from the initiative, which was aimed at supporting youth development in aviation.

The three-day event was on the theme: ‘Changing the African Aviation Narrative.’

The Convention was to convene stakeholders to dialogue and deliberate on subject matters to pave the way for the air transport industry’s development and change the narrative of African Aviation.

It is also aimed at establishing lasting interactions and partnerships among aviation players and airlines in the aviation value chain for win-win relationships that will benefit African aviation.

The Convention was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia under the patronage of the Government of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.

The statement said 31 African airlines attended the conference, out of which 14 were represented at the CEO level and overall, the event was attended by 455 participants from 42 countries.

A total of 21 aviation-related companies showcased their products and solutions through an exhibition at the Convention.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Kumasi, The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has urged Muslims in the Ashanti Region to maintain the healthy relations existing between them and the Manhyia Palace.

He said the friendship between Manhyia and the Muslim community over the years fostered peaceful coexistence and community development and should be sustained for posterity.

He was speaking at a Quran recitation ceremony put together by the office of Kumasi Zongo Nkosuohene, Alhaji Ali Barry, in collaboration with the Council of Ulamau in the Ashanti Region to mark the 75th birthday of the Asantehene at the forecourt of the Manhyia Palace.

The Quran recitation was meant to pray for the Asantehene for Allah’s guidance for good health and long life as he turned 75 years old.

It was also to show solidarity to the Asantehene for enhancing the peaceful relations between the Manhyia palace and the Muslim community in the Ashanti Region.

Citing some historical antecedence, Otumfuo said Muslims had been part of the Palace, playing significant roles in the traditional leadership of the Asante Kingdom.

Sheikh Abdul Mumin Haroun, the Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, who led the recitation advised the Muslims to strive to maintain peace and harmony with neighbours as the religion stipulates.

He urged all tribal heads to remain calm in the face of the misunderstanding surrounding the installation of a new Zongo Chief as Manhyia took steps to resolve the impasse.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, The Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council (GNBCC), and the European Chamber of Commerce have affirmed Ghana’s position as the leading destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and trade with the highest competitiveness score in West Africa.

These organisations, however, noted that Senegal and Ivory Coast were fast gaining ground and Ghana had to redouble her efforts to remain competitive.

Mr Tjalling Wiarda, General Manager of the Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council, and Mr Nicholas Gebara, Executive Director of the European Chamber of Commerce

were speaking during an expert panel webinar to mark European Union Day held at the Institute of International Affairs, Ghana (GhIIA.org).

The webinar was organized as part of the celebrations to mark European Day and in recognition of the long period of trade relations between Europe and Ghana.

It was also an attempt to tap into the knowledge of the European Chambers of Commerce on how Ghana was competing in attracting European businesses and investments compared to its peers in sub-Saharan Africa.

They said despite major challenges, Ghana remained an oasis of peace and security in the West Africa sub-region and thus continued to be a preferred destination.

They agreed that the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the siting of the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra presented a bullish opportunity for growth in the

economy.

Mr Gebara said, ‘What any European company is looking for is ease of access to large markets in Africa. So, if I can trade with Ghana, and through that gain access to the 300 million ECOWAS market as well, it will be attractive.’

He said the modification and the implementation of the Companies Act along with the introduction of the Insolvency Law and the Bankruptcy Law was an indication of efforts to streamline the regulatory framework essential for any business entity registered and operating in Ghana.

He, however, noted that consultations could be deepened to ensure that the business community is carried out.

Mr Gebara said even though other countries seem to have lax regimes and were thus inching up in the volume of trade, it was becoming evident that their lack of standards on issues like human rights, quality standards, and climate issues was in the long-term leading to unsustainable growth.

Mr Wiarda, however, said Ghana had to do more to become more attractive with the AfCFTA framework, otherwise, companies would move their bases to other African countries as entry points.

The General Manager said for instance more had to be done to bring to life the free zones concept as the current feedback from prospective companies indicated that the costs of setting up were a bit higher compared to other markets.

He further noted that Senegal and Ivory Coast were making great strides in attracting businesses, and indeed the port of Abidjan was becoming preferred for trade to the Sahelian region.

He stressed that the cost of doing business in Ghana was very high and this was on the basis that a foreigner required USD 200,000 as capital before setting up a business in Ghana as compared to Nigeria which was USD 50,000.

Mr Wirada said Kotoka was now the most expensive airport for airlines to land in Africa, and the fifth most expensive in the world, therefore, more was needed to be done if Ghana wished to put in place an airbridge for produce, as Kenya had achieved for Naivasha to Europe.

He said Ghana could take very useful lessons from countries like Vietnam, Rwanda, Suriname, and Morocco on the needed reforms to boost competitiveness.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Much still has to be done in Cameroon to ensure that women and girls are able to overcome period poverty as well as understand how to manage their menstrual cycles.

The world celebrated menstrual hygiene day on May 28, with a focus on ways to stop discrimination towards girls and women.

According to Bihnwi Pamela in Douala, many women are still facing stigma and deprivation, as a result of menstruation.

“The knowledge of menstrual hygiene is still very far from most girls as they aren’t taught at home by their parents” Pamela points out.

“They don’t know what it means, how to manage the situation, or even how to communicate it. They don’t know about sanitary pads let alone having access to them.”

Besides creating awareness on World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Pamela highlights that knowledge on menstrual hygiene needs to be given wider attention.

“Parents should be encouraged to discuss it with their girl children at tender ages so that they know these things and have their minds ready, so that when the changes finally come they can better manage the situation and also talk about it freely.”

During this year’s celebration of the menstrual hygiene day on Sunday, May 28, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Natalia Kanem said “A girl’s first period should be a happy fact of life, a sign of coming of age with dignity.”

She added that “The girl should have access to everything necessary to understand and care for her body and attend school without stigma or shame.”

According to the Word Bank, at least 500 million women and girls across the world lack access to the facilities they need during their periods.

UN Women adds that more than 2.25 billion women and girls worldwide have no safe private toilet to go to.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Angolan head of State João Lourenço Monday sent a message to congratulate Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his electoral victory for another term at the head of the destinies of the Republic of Turkey.

“I am convinced that your re-election is the re-assertion of the Turkish people’s trust for believing in deep achievement of the policies you have been carrying out, with visible successes, aimed at building and consolidating a prosperous and developed nation”, reads the message published on the Presidential

Facebook page.

President João Lourenço finally expressed the desire to see the two Governments committed to the permanent deepening of bilateral relations during President Erdogan’s next term.

According to the election results, the current Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was re-elected in the second round of the election, which took place on Sunday (28), with 52.54 percent

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Around 811,000 workers, including military and paramilitary personnel, are currently included in the State’s Integrated Financial Management System, the Minister of Public Administration, Labour and Social Security, Teresa Dias, said on Monday.

Teresa Dias disclosed the figure when delivering her speech at the opening of the National Meeting of Public Administration, Labour and Social Security, stating that in the management and control of civil service personnel, there were 398,815 employees until in 2018.

That number, she explained, fluctuated over the period under review, with a total of 399,820 employees by 2022.

She said, on the other hand, that the approval and entry into force, in 2022, of the Basic Civil Service Law, has allowed this ministerial department to reduce the probationary period from five to one year.

This enabled to include all agents in the permanent staff of administrative staff under contract, in total of 7,200, in addition to the transfer of employees from the special scheme to the general scheme, without the need for an appeal public tender.

“We would like to point out that the Executive also worked on the approval of Presidential Legislative Decree No. 3/22, of May 12, which established the general principles relating to the organisation and application of the indicative structure of the salary grids, as well as subsidies or additional remuneration from the Civil Service,” she stressed.

The Minister recalled that, as part of the training of civil servants and workers in the public sector of companies, the National School of Administration and Public Policies (ENAPP) trained 44,905 agents, having exceeded the target of 32,000 established in the National Development Plan (PDN).

The National Meeting on Public Administration, Labour and Social Security gathered members of the Executive, social partners, academics, journalists, among other guests.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)